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Organizing any closet is a lot of work, but tackling a child’s closet offers unique challenges. As a grown-up, your closet probably is used mostly for your clothing and shoes, and perhaps some old boxes of keepsakes and a spare blanket or two. A child’s closet is a different world though. Your kid probably uses his closet not only for shoes and clothes, but also for toys, books, keepsakes, and more. And who knows what is lurking in some of those untouched corners where things have been piling up for years? Here are 4 quick steps to organizing a child’s closet!

1. Pull everything out.

Start by getting all of the contents out of the closet. While you are at it, vacuum the floor and wipe down the shelves. Make sure your child is involved in this process—and if it is an older child, you may want to step out and let your child take care of it all. Take a look at the contents that have been pulled out of the closet. Is there anything that doesn’t belong—stuff that belongs to you for example? If so, take it out of the closet and put it somewhere else, like the attic or your own closet.

2. Sort everything.

Put everything in piles—toys in one pile, clothing in another, and so on. Then go through each pile and do additional sorting. Start making a pile of items that should go to the thrift store, as well as a pile for actual trash (an astounding amount of this can end up in any child’s closet). Also see if there are any clothes that are too big; you can store these somewhere else until your child can wear them. Clothes that are too small can be stored somewhere as well if you plan on having future children.

3. Make the closet more functional.

Does the closet only have a high bar? Add in a lower one your child can reach more easily. Add hanging canvas shelves, cubbies, and clear plastic bins at ground level. Plastic containers for toys and other items are perfect for organization and easy for children to use.

4. Label plastic containers with lids.

Clear plastic containers are ideal for children, especially small children, because they can see what’s inside. For an added level of organization, you can label the plastic bins. Clear plastic bins often have opaque lids, so labels on top can be very helpful. Labels also encourage children to continue keeping items in their appropriate bins. Otherwise they may start mixing their toys and clothes and accessories together, and the closet will once again lose its tidiness.

Organizing a child’s closet is arguably even more work than organizing your own closet, but once it is done, your child will be happier and so will you. If you have a younger child, look for ways to make it a fun task instead of a frustrating chore, and enjoy spending quality time together!